Hawkers and Musk Orchid

During a quick trip to Dungeness DW got a message from DB about Norfolk Hawkers at Westbere so we arranged to meet up and go and look for ourselves. We parked at the crossing, which had moved! You now have to walk 1/4 mile down the track, cross and walk 1/4 mile back, seems a total, unnecessary waste of money for a 3 second crossing.
As we walked along the track we saw several Red Admirals and Speckled Wood butterflies as well as damselflies, Scarce Chaser and a sparkling female Banded Demoiselle.








We met NJ who had arrived minutes before us and after a short time he found one flying across the vegetation near the river. Eventually, on the way out he found a stunning male resting on a reed leaf.





In another pool he found a female ovipositing but it shot off and was seen with the male for a short while before disappearing.

A look around found a supporting cast of plants with Meadowsweet, Hemp Agrimony, Houndstooth and Common Valerian.








On the way home we visited Park Gate Down. The growth of grasses was luxuriant but dotted around were lots of pyramidal orchids as well as Fragrant orchids, past their best. In the last compartment we found well over 100 of the tiny Musk orchid. The meadows we lovely with several downland plants still in flower.


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Dungeness

Twitter tweets suggested a better moth night but my moth trap only held about 15 species of the usual moths. A bit disappointing after the Beautiful Hook Tip from yesterday. The drive across the marsh was fairly quiet with just one Marsh Harrier and a couple of Yellow Wagtails.
Marty the House Martin was lively and vocal at the obs and is flying around strengthening its wings. Ww drove round the point and then went out to the screen hide where the swallows are busy feeding at least 3 young. On the islands were 5 Black-tailed Godwits, a Ruff and a couple of Dunlin among the Lapwing.
We spent a little time watching at least 5 porpoise from the point in the late afternoon sunshine.








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Dungeness

3 Yellow wagtails and 2 Marsh Harriers were the highlight of the drive across the  marsh to Dungeness this morning.  Arriving at the obs I met the young, rescued House Martin and watched it being fed.



We decided to go to over to Rye Golf course for the lizard orchids as these were new for Patrick.







Additionally, lots of pyramidal orchids,Bee orchids still just top flowers good, meadow brow, small Heath and common blue.




Thick-kneed beetle sp




Pyramidal Orchids




Crow Garlic




Small Heath
 

Moths in the trap

Since returning from Turkey the moth trap has attracted more moths with a reasonable selection.  The first Large yellow Underwing for the year, the first Swallowtail among others as well as Light Emerald, Elephant Hawkmoth,  treble brown spot, Buff Tip, Buff Arches and Buff Ermine and double figures for Heart and Dart.


















 The temperature is rising nicely so hope to get a few more butterflies. Just 1 Small Tortoiseshell.
Greenfinch and house sparrow continue to visit the feeders with a family party of young Blue Tits, the first we've seen.

Frogs, Lizards and Bees

Waking up to a nice day instead of the wet cloudy day I expected I decided to go over to Eastbourne to look for Frog orchids, one I haven't seen for several years. The moth trap had a nice surprise with a Privet Hawkmoth as well as the usual moths but at least the numbers are rising.

PB and PS decided to come too so after raiding the fridge we set off with PB driving. The route took us through some lovely kent and Sussex countryside with flower filled verges and following the sat nav we arrived at Pashley rd. the wall up took us through some ash woodland and then a levelish path along the side of chalk downland, with common spotted orchids just showing in the grassy gaps.

Following our detailed instructions we turned up the holland found at least 30 plants growing along the bankside. A lovely spot with other downland flowers dotted about.

We returned to the car and ate our lunch overlooking a 'wild meadow' which held

Marguerite. Yellow rattle, an allium and some common spotted orchids among others. There were also quite a few Burnet companions.

We returned via the Bee and Lizard orchids at Rye finishing off with a quick look from Scott's Float. A really lovely day.



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Monday 17th. Breeding Bird Survey

The second visit was hanging over me as the weather had not been the best for getting up early and walking round my BBS square, but as I was going away for a week I decided now or never. We got up at 6 o'clock and after a quick cup of tea we headed for my square. It was dry when we left but was spitting by the time we got 2 minutes down the road. It had more or less stopped by the time we got there and et off across the fields. It was lovely to walk through this 'organic meadow' with buttercups, marguerites, lesser stitchwort and field geranium.

Bird numbers seemed to be down and some areas were very quiet. We did find a nightingale singing in the woody area across the road. As we returned along the footpath we found about 10 Spotted Orchids along the field edge.

  

Sat 15th. Twitching a Swift.

This morning was a slow one, taking time over my tea and finding several moths in the trap for a change, including Brown Line Brown Eye, Snout and Buff Ermine. The drive across the marsh was improved by 3 male Marsh Harriers but little else. Plenty of swifts were hawking over ARC and the shingle flora was lovely.
After sorting out final details for our trip to Turkey we checked the Pager to see a Pacific Swift had been found at Trimley Marshes in Suffolk. We collected a drink, arranged to collect TG and PB and PS, diverted into Hamstreet village to buy sandwiches and crisps for lunch and set off, checking the pager regularly to see if the swift was still there.
The drive was pretty good and we arrived by 2.30. Unfortunately, the police had closed the lane because of the traffic so we had to park in the village which added an extra half mile to the 2.5 mile walk! As we trudged along the track we met lots of people coming away, all with pleased smiles until after about half an hour it started to rain and got heavier as we got closer. The message now was that the bird had disappeared with the rain but there was always the chance it would return so we trudged on, getting soaked. We reached the first hide but it was jam packed so I tried to find some shelter but decided to go on to the next hide where there was space to escape the downpour.
A quarter of an hour wait and then the shout went up, "Its Here", "on the left" and following a frantic few minutes, there it was. It hawked around the bushes at the back of the pond and then a heavy storm with hail, thunder and lightening saw the swift disappear. Taking the point of view that it had gone and come back before we hung on and as the weather slowly cleared, the swifts came back and the Pacific swift with it.

It spent a lot of time flying back and forth at the back of the ponds, occasionally coming closer.
As my camera battery had run out I couldn't even try and get a photo but there were plenty of others clicking away.









After another short absence the swift continued to hawk back and forth but we decided to leave around 6.00 as it was a good 45 minute walk back and then the 2.30 hour drive back.
We stopped off at the Tesco roundabout for a Burger King meal, I dropped P&P and DW and TG off and headed home, my 409th british bird.